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Fully Funded BPEX Studentship (deadline 1st Aug) - 24th July 2008

Applications are invited for a fully funded BPEX studentship, based in the School of the Environment & Natural Resources, Bangor University. This studentship is part of a wider project researching into the viability of Bioreduction as a storage method of fallen stock prior to disposal. It provides an exciting opportunity for a dedicated individual eager to develop a range of research skills involving both pure and applied natural sciences.

How to Apply:
Send a CV and letter of application to :

Mrs Sheila Jones
School of the Environment & Natural Resource Bangor University Thoday Building Deiniol Road Bangor Gwynedd, N Wales, LL57 2UW.

Email: s.m.jones@bangor.ac.uk;
Tel: 01248 382457, Fax: 01248 354997

Closing date: 1st August, 2008

  • Fully Funded BPEX Studentship (deadline 1st Aug) - 24th July 2008Fully Funded BPEX Studentship (deadline 1st Aug) - 24th July 2008
    Applications are invited for a fully funded BPEX studentship, based in the School of the Environment & Natural Resources, Bangor University. This studentship is part of a wider project researching into the viability of Bioreduction as a storage method of fallen stock prior to disposal. It provides an exciting opportunity for a dedicated individual eager to develop a range of research skills involving both pure and applied natural sciences.
  • Get the latest Action for Productivity sheet! - 23rd July 2008Get the latest Action for Productivity sheet! - 23rd July 2008
    The next in the Action for Productivity series is now available from BPEX (ask any member of the team, call 01908 844734 or download from www.bpex.org.uk/publications/A4Ps.aspx). Number 15 looks at the topic of hospital and recovery pens and can be used in conjunction with farm health plans to review hospital/recovery pen management and facilities.
  • Grist size checking kit available from BPEX - 14th July 2008Grist size checking kit available from BPEX - 14th July 2008
    Lisbeth Ravn arranged the delivery of 4 feed sieves from Bygholm in Denmark so the KT Team are able to look at the levels of coarseness of feed, cereal and other products for producers who mill their own feed. The sieve operates simply and the levels of feed left in each area of the sieve tells you about the quality of the feed being produced.
  • Combining clients to improve knowledge exchange - 14th July 2008Combining clients to improve knowledge exchange - 14th July 2008
    Two Yorkshire vet practices have come together to create their own pig club for their clients to attend. With help from BPEX KT manager Lis Ravn, Howells Veterinary Surgeons and Holmefield Farm Services held their first club meeting discussing - ‘EP vaccination, is it still a necessity?’
  • Are you ready for a challenge? - 11th July 2008Are you ready for a challenge? - 11th July 2008
    The opportunities for challenging and changing current ways of thinking in Agriculture has never been so great. And one organisation that has been at the forefront of challenging the status quo is Nuffield Farming Scholarships. So it is exciting to announce that BPEX have teamed up with Nuffield to create a Nuffield Award specifically for the pig industry.
  • WELCOME TO THE PIG INDUSTRY - 11th July 2008WELCOME TO THE PIG INDUSTRY - 11th July 2008
    BPEX held their second Introduction to the Pig Industry day at Retford, Nottinghamshire recently. Delegates attending included representatives from DEFRA, Lantra, Environment Agency, Catchment Sensitive Farming, RSPCA, Co-op, Trading Standards and Animal Health.
  • Cash for Yorkshire - 8th July 2008Cash for Yorkshire - 8th July 2008
    BPEX Ltd has just secured funding from Yorkshire Forward to help with staff development in the Yorkshire and Humber pig industry. The funding will provide support to the industry whilst they continue to build on existing skills and knowledge, which can be one of the key factors helping to improve the overall competitiveness of the industry.
  • Farrowing House Training - 8th July 2008Farrowing House Training - 8th July 2008
    At a recent on farm training session the unit went through a list of best practice and identified where they were on the list making themselves; excellent, not at all and needs more attention.
  • Grading Problem - 8th July 2008Grading Problem - 8th July 2008
    A unit recently experienced a problem with grading. Their slaughter pigs have been graded fatter going from an average of 10.81mm suddenly up to 13mm. This was of course causing great concern over the penalties on the slaughter contract.
  • Young Pig Producers' Dinner - 1st July 2008Young Pig Producers' Dinner - 1st July 2008
    We would like to remind you about the first young pig producers dinner in Yorkshire with guest speaker Rick Sanderson, Pork Chain Business Development Manager for PIC (UK). The meal is being held at the Ramada Fairfield Manor, York, on Thursday 10th July - 6:15 for a 6:30 start.
  • Making use of sawdust/shavings - 28th June 2008Making use of sawdust/shavings - 28th June 2008
    A producer in North Yorkshire that KT Manager Lis Ravn recently visited always uses sawdust or shavings in his growing/finishing pig pens. All pigs from 30 kg are housed in part-slatted floor pens. After the pens have been cleaned and disinfected, the producer covers the floor with shavings, before entry of the pigs.
  • Outdoor recovery pens - 26th June 2008Outdoor recovery pens - 26th June 2008
    A producer in Yorkshire has set up an outdoor recovery pen arrangement. Outdoor sow huts are used as accomodation, housing 2-4 growing (sick) pigs with a small enlcosed outdoor area as well. The huts are deep bedded with straw.
  • Lactational oestrus - 23rd June 2008Lactational oestrus - 23rd June 2008
    Have you noticed sows coming on to heat during lactation? Some of the triggers for this include a disruption to suckling, boar contact, flush feeding and stress.
  • Ask the experts on the BPEX site - 17th June 2008Ask the experts on the BPEX site - 17th June 2008
    Got a burning question to ask BPEX? Then go to “Ask BPEX”, which is now live on the BPEX website.
  • Provide for the Summer Heat - 11th June 2008Provide for the Summer Heat - 11th June 2008
    Recently spotted on an outdoor unit were these great shades. These shades were made from thick galebreaker with bungee ropes going across them to attach to 4 wooden stakes – as pictured.
  • Oxford Pig Club Annual Review - 11th June 2008Oxford Pig Club Annual Review - 11th June 2008
    The pig club in Oxford that benchmarks their figures on a quarterly basis were able to carry out a year on year check at their last meeting in May.
  • South West Training Scheme - 10th June 2008South West Training Scheme - 10th June 2008
    The BPEX Devon and Cornwall training group met up for the last time before their summer break this week. Tess Howe, the BPEX training co-ordinator attended the final training afternoons to see how the group have got on with their monthly sessions.
  • Salmonella Meeting - June 8th 2008Salmonella Meeting - June 8th 2008
    At a recent meeting the pig club for Howells Vets and Holmefield Farm Services clients covered the topic Salmonella.
  • BPEX AI Standard - June 3rd 2008BPEX AI Standard - June 3rd 2008
    The BPEX AI Standard is based on agreed Best Practice principles and procedures that are followed by the AI centres. Its introduction further extended the chain of assurance to include AI to give producers confidence that the product arriving on their farm was produced to a consistently high standard.
  • BPEX Workshops - 1st June 2008BPEX Workshops - 1st June 2008
    Over the past couple of years the BPEX KT Team have run a wide range of well-attended workshops across the country.
  • Grower Finisher Meeting has huge turn out - 30th May 2008Grower Finisher Meeting has huge turn out - 30th May 2008
    Nearly 30 pig producers and their staff gathered at Boroughbridge, Yorkshire for an evening workshop on the challenges they face when managing the growing pig.
  • Working Together in Yorkshire - 24th May 2008Working Together in Yorkshire - 24th May 2008
    Two Yorkshire vet practices have gone together and created a pig club for their clients to attend.
  • Biosecure farm visits! 20th May 2008Biosecure farm visits! 20th May 2008
    The KT team have started videoing sections of pig production so you can see how other units carry out certain tasks
  • Pfizer trainee of the year 18th May 2008Pfizer trainee of the year 18th May 2008
    Do you or any of your staff take time to get involved in regular training? If so you could be up for a cash award for commiting to continued development.
  • Vermin Control Training - 15th May 2008Vermin Control Training - 15th May 2008
    A practical approach was taken at a recent rodent control training session to go through the areas required to achieve good control and create a robust control plan.
  • Cornish and Devon Training Group - 12th May 2008Cornish and Devon Training Group - 12th May 2008
    It ain’t what you’ve got its what you do with it – was the theme of the penultimate training afternoon in Cornwall and Devon last week. Hugh Crabtree from Farmex and Fran Baird from George Vet Group discussed health and building design on each unit in the group and what could be done to improve them.
  • Do Some Pigs get all the luck? May 8th 2008Do Some Pigs get all the luck? May 8th 2008
    At a recent meeting the difference in pig flow between 2 weeks worth of pigs could be dramatic depending on staffing levels was discussed.
  • Electric Fence Power - May 5th 2008Electric Fence Power - May 5th 2008
    The recent warm and wet weather will have meant that grass and weeds will have grown out of control and many of them underneath your essential electric fence!
  • First Somerset Pig Club - May 2nd 2008First Somerset Pig Club - May 2nd 2008
    The first Somerset Pig Club was held last night with guest speaker Steve Newing from Blanchard and Blanchard Enterprises.
  • Work Instructions - May 2nd 2008Work Instructions - May 2nd 2008
    A number of Work Instructions have been developed by the KT Team for use on farm. These included Slap Marking, Preparing a farrowing crate and vet and med storage.
  • Innovation fund - the ideas are in! 1st May 2008Innovation fund - the ideas are in! 1st May 2008
    The most recent round of innovation fund ideas are in with BPEX. There are some great ideas whcih will be processed and funded accordingly.
  • Something for everyone - 27th April 2008Something for everyone - 27th April 2008
    A list of the all the workshops that BPEX can offer will soon be available on the BPEX website but those at the Pig and Poultry Fair this month will be able to pick up a list first from the BPEX stand (47).
  • Producer Clubs move forward - 22nd April 2008Producer Clubs move forward - 22nd April 2008
    KT Manager Angela Cliff has started two new groups in the central region, Hodnet and Nottinghamshire.
  • Making the most of your staff - 22nd April 2008Making the most of your staff - 22nd April 2008
    One of the most common staffing issues facing managers in the pig industry, where it is difficult to devote enough time to training and there are tight deadlines to be met, is how to get the best out of new staff as quickly as possible.
  • Straw Based Nursery Workshop - 21st April 2008Straw Based Nursery Workshop - 21st April 2008
    A workshop was put on recently in Salisbury specifically for Straw Based Nursery stockpeople.
  • Using Detergent - 18th April 2008Using Detergent - 18th April 2008
    At a recent meeting cleaning and disinfectant was discussed and one unit talked about when they started using detergent as part of the cleaning regime it nearly halved their pressure washing time.
  • Straw Supplies Run Low - 17th April 2008Straw Supplies Run Low - 17th April 2008
    Many units are waiting for harvest so thier straw stocks will be replenished.
  • Stop Tail-biting Outbreak Project - 17th April 2008Stop Tail-biting Outbreak Project - 17th April 2008
    Concerned about the level of tail biting on a farm? Appearance of tail-biting on a farm Sudden increase from a background level of tail-biting High percentage of severely bitten pigs
  • Transporting pigs – are you up-to date? - 17 April 08Transporting pigs – are you up-to date? - 17 April 08
    By April, everybody hauling pigs should have a Certificate of Competence in Animal Transport. Although sitting an exam may seem a daunting prospect to many practical people, the assessment should not be feared.
  • Yorkshire Pig Club - 15 April 2008Yorkshire Pig Club - 15 April 2008
    At a recent pig club meeting on service house management a manager of a Yorkshire unit explained their system.